bakerstreet | YOU WANT, UH, A TISSUE? MAYBE SOME SOAP? NEW CLOTHES?

YOU WANT, UH, A TISSUE? MAYBE SOME SOAP? NEW CLOTHES?

COVERED IN BLOOD MEME

So you're a bit of a mess. Or you're stumbling upon a mess. What happened? There's blood everywhere, what the hell? Is it your blood, animal blood, the blood of someone you murdered? Hell, maybe you ran out of tampons. Anyway, no matter how it got there, you're (or someone you know is) covered in blood. Can it be explained away? If not, is someone going to prison? The hospital? Going to die of blood loss? Get in trouble for playing catch with the blood bags? Man, we don't know. The point is you have a mess to clean up. Or roll around in gleefully, you nasty fucks.

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• While this meme is bound to have a lot of potentially triggering content, content warnings for anything ott or very extreme are probably a good idea!
• Have fun!

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[By the time they get to the airlock Shiro's struggling. He's struggling to be any help at all with movement - and he's struggling to stay focused mentally as well. All his mind really wants to do is haze over and its getting harder and harder to fight that. He can't though - Keith might need him and he needs to be useful. More than a dead weight. Keith's voice comes to him from far away and it takes him a long moment to focus on it, moving automatically, one foot in front of the other as his mind sorts through the noises and struggles to make them make sense. And to make what they mean make sense. But -

the sound he makes is a cough, dry and dusty, but one edge of his lips pulls up and there's a trace of humor. He thinks he gets what Keith is up to.]

Clever.

[He manages to grate it out and puts the last of his energy and strength into being mobile enough to carry through with Keith's plan.]

[Keith was actually glad they were there already. He could tell Shiro was fading in strength, even if he didn't know exactly why that was happening other than Shiro looked really badly beat up. Keith was getting worried.]

Over here.

[He led Shiro into a side room and helped him sit. He was going to have to sell the airlock trick, though, so that meant going back out there himself.]

Stay here.

[And he was on his way back out-]

[Exhaustion, fever, drugs, adrenaline wearing off, there are a lot of reasons Shiro's having to fight to stay sharp and aware but he does. The middle of an escape isn't the place to zone off and even if he doesn't imagine a great deal that he could do if needed, he's still going to try if necessary. Keith risked everything to get to him, he's not going to not return that given half a chance.

Except Keith lowers him into a sitting position against a wall and its all Shiro can do to breathe ragged, narrowing his eyes to keep his focus on Keith. His head is muffled but his lost arm is a throbbing mess and he focuses on that pain, trying to use it to keep himself in the moment.]

Keith

[He thinks he understands what's happening, what the plan is. And he doesn't like it. He's not the only one hurt. He knows Keith is too. But - its the best plan they have and Shiro can't think of anything better. He hates it but - ]

Be careful out there.

[Keith glanced back at the sound of his name, then gave Shiro one of his half-smirks.]

I'll be back.

[And he was out the door, closing it behind him.

He jogged back to the airlock and opened up the inner door. The group spotted him and started shooting, so he dove in and smacked the control to close it again. That would give him time to find a place to hide. There were some strapped down crates in the corner, so he headed for that, having to climb up a bit to find a spot he could fit inside enough that he'd be hidden.

The door slid open again and the group came running in, shouting various orders back and forth at each other. Keith waited. The door was still open, so once he was sure he could make it, he jumped down from the crates. He grunted, the landing aggravating his injured leg, and he fell into a roll. The noise drew their attention, and he had dive back out the door. He threw his Galra knife to hit the door control, and then scrambled to avoid getting shot.

Two got out before the door slid shut, and Keith drew his bayard to fight, using the particle shield in his armor's wrist gauntlet to block the two guns. He charged in, taking away their range advantage quickly, and took down one pretty quick. The other managed to get a kick in on his side, and Keith had to roll away to catch his breath, bringing up the shield again as his enemy attempted to go back to shooting again.

He wasn't sure how much time they had before the rest of the group got that inner airlock door open again, but he needed to get Shiro moving. With the airlock now effectively blocked, he was going to have to head for the hangar. He fought for another surge of energy to take this last guy down.]

[Shiro hates having to listen to everything through the thick doors of the room he's in, hates the way everything is muffled and how long the silence stretches - but he hates even more when he hears the sounds of weapon's fire. With his good hand, he clutches at the stump of his ruined one, dangling wires, infected smelling liquids over his hand. Keith is out there. Fighting. Hurt. And Shiro doesn't underestimate Keith's fighting ability but - he's still young. He's so young and he's out there fighting for not just his life but Shiro's as well and - he shouldn't have to do that alone. There has to be something he can do to help his friend. Fighting, grunting, Shiro gets one knee under him and then forces that foot up. Gets himself braced up that way. As much as he'd like to go out there, throw himself into the fight as well, unarmed, literally, to be nothing but a distraction to the enemy, but Shiro knows that he'd be more of a problem than anything else, something Keith would have to take the focus off himself for. More damage than good.

The sound of firing stops but Shiro imagines he here's the clang of weapons. He really needs to make his team more self-sufficient. Without Lance and Hunk here, he and Keith are close range only. And Hunk and Lance could use something to use at short range if they needed it. Which- is for another time. When they're all out of here and safe again. Shiro gets his other foot under him and lurches to his feet. The room spirals inward with sparks and goes dark on him and he hangs his head and waits for his sight to come back, fighting to keep from passing out. Mobile. He needs to be mobile. The slower he is, the more of a risk he puts on Keith and the others.

The room lurches again and at first he thinks its just vertigo - except boxes fall sideways nearby and he realizes no - that's external. Either Red or the others have finally arrived.

He'd give anything to have his helmet and be able to hear their voices in his ear.

It gives him a renewed determination and he opens his eyes, narrows them against the wobbly world and starts for the door. He needs to do something, either help or at least be mobile and aware. Keith expects him to be here when he gets back and Shiro doesn't intend to throw off any plan he has regarding that - but he puts his back against the wall near the door, good arm on the free side. If anyone but Keith come through the door, Shiro can at least have that advantage. And if its' Keith - well, at least he won't have to get Shiro on his feet again.]

[The extra attack was the distraction Keith needed to get the upperhand back. As soon as his opponent stopped firing, he charged forward and finished the fight. With a short delay to yank his Galra blade from the door control panel, he made his way back to the storage room.]

Shiro, I'm coming in.

[He wasn't sure what shape Shiro was in, but he did know that, if he was well enough, Shiro might try to defend himself if he didn't know who was coming through the door. Keith figured to at least warn him and give him the chance to register what was going on so he could stand down if needed. They were both already pretty beat up. They didn't need to accidentally be fighting each other. He slid open the door.]

Red's gonna meet us- Shiro?

[It took Keith a moment to figure out that Shiro had moved positions. Well, that was a relatively positive sign if he could move on his own, even if it wasn't great movement.]

We have to get the hangar bay. The others just got here, and they're covering Red until we can get there.

[In his life, Shiro has had far too many moments of bone loosening relief to be healthy he's sure - and so many of them involve hearing Keith's voice. Like now. The exhale goes out of him and its relief but it also drains some of his strength out of him. Nothing motivates him like his team, his friends, in danger. But - they're still in danger and the sooner they get him out of here, the sooner his team can get themselves out of danger. So he exhales again but this time there's a strain to it and a bracing up at the same time and he manages to shift away from the wall enough to get his arm over Keith's shoulders again. Offers what's probably a pathetic smile but gives it all the same.]

Tell them - I'm glad to hear them again. ][It's sentimental and he usually won't take the time for that when everyone's still in danger but - he's been in hell and even the promise of hearing their voices in the future, his team, his crew, his friends, is enough to give him a burst of extra strength. He's been starved for them and - he needs to hear them again. Soon. But first - ]

Grab me one of their guns on the way past. Even if I can't aim it well, I can still lay down distracting fire if we run into anyone else on the way.

[Keith managed a tired, but genuine, half-smile in return. Even he had his sentimental moments now and then. Unfortunately, their little bit of Hell wasn't quite done with them, yet, and they still had to make it to the hangar.

Keith spoke into the comm.]

Guys, I've got Shiro. He's uh... [And here he smirked a little.] ...glad to hear you again. [While the responses might not have been completely clear to someone not wearing the helmet, the tone was pretty obvious. The rest of the team was definitely glad to get that news.]

We're headed for the hangar, so try to keep Red covered.

[A few affirmative responses from the others, and Keith started out into the hall, taking just enough time to grab one of the guns from the two downed guards nearby before turning for the hangar. There were noises in the airlock as they left the area. Keith hadn't actually dumped the group into space, but they still weren't happy about being stuck in there, and were attempting to get the inner door open again. He wasn't sure how much time they'd have before they broke out, so it was definitely time to move.

This wasn't going to be an easy trip, but Keith was going to push as much as he could.]

[Shiro can only barely make out the noise from the team, his head close enough to Keith's to catch just a little of the feedback from the helmet and it makes him smile.

That's his team. His friends. His family.

And he's going to see them soon. Dammit all to hell but he's going to make sure he sees them soon. It has him gritting his teeth and he reaches down inside himself and dredges up the last emergency reserves he's got to give. Keith is hurt. And exhausted. And probably putting far more of himself on the line than was healthy. Shiro isn't going to let him make those sacrifices for nothing. Whatever he's got left to give, Shiro will give it. He does manage though, as he forces himself mobile, as he forces himself to keep up and get to that hanger - ]

You sounded just - like a team leader, Keith.

You know you're getting that spot back, right?

[Keith managed a dry chuckle. He didn't mind being the second, but actually leading? Keith had really of put himself through the wringer early on, trying hard to do things the way he thought Shiro would have wanted them done, trying to feel like he was going to make Shiro proud when Shiro got back, trying to be a leader. The others had to talk some sense into him a few times when he had overworked himself. He had tried to shoulder everything, because that's what he thought he had to do.

Still, though, having Shiro say that made him feel good. Once he had gotten himself settled, the others responded to him being the leader, and were surprisingly supportive of it... even Lance (though the Blue Paladin was always the first to challenge him or call him on something that seemed wrong, which ended up going a lot smoother than it sounded). It was nice to think that maybe he had done something right, even with all his doubts and worries.]

But, thanks...

[All along, Keith had felt he had something to prove as far as Shiro having made the right choice. And, while he was working with Red for this mission due to her speed advantage, he had worked with Black a few times, especially when attempting to search for Shiro. It was Black that had given them the direction and potential location of the ship carrying Shiro, having picked up on him through their bond. Keith was still pretty sure that he didn't have the same bond with Black that Shiro had earned, but he had that with Red, so he wasn't all that put out by the idea.

They were getting closer to the hangar, now, as it wasn't terribly far from the airlock, thankfully, but there was a sudden burst of voices as the group trapped in the airlock managed to get the door to start moving. Keith gave one quick glance back, noting that they were pushing the door manually, and it wasn't easy for them to do, but he and Shiro still didn't have much time.

He hit the control panel for the hangar door, mentally goading it to move faster.]

[The sounds Shiro makes in answer is stifled. He's always known Keith would make a good leader. For all his impulsiveness, he sees the big picture and he will defend his team to the death without a thought. He's young and is - was inexperienced but - they all learned on the fly. No matter what instructors tried to tell you, you didn't learn leadership until you were doing it. Shiro is proud of Keith for stepping up, maybe more than most, because he knows, completely the burden he was asking the younger paladin to shoulder when he gave it.

...

and deep in his heart of hearts...

Shiro wants his team back.

Its selfish because they give him a reason to keep going every day, give him a reason to fight harder, to push himself further. They give him meaning, they give him a place. And no matter how willing he will be to step aside if someone else better for them comes along, if they've decided to follow Keith instead because he's their peer - deep down in the darkness of him that he doesn't share, he wants his team back under his wings. He wants to lead them again.

Which he isn't about to share at the moment, no matter how much Keith's words make his heart lift in hope in his chest and swell almost painfully. That - his position is still there for him, his place hasn't been taken, he's still wanted and needed. But there's too much still up in the air, too much going on he isn't aware of, so much he's missed and he doesn't even know how long he's been missing or what the team has become while he's been gone.

Whether Black is still his or not...

Later. He'll deal with it all later. At the moment the only priority is getting out of here and he can already feel his body trying to betray him, his steps starting to lose their ability to land and support weight. Only the promise of his team - and Keith's grip on him the way his friend anchors his mind as well - keep him stubbornly going.

the hanger door is taking forever to open. Or it isn't. It just feels that way. Buy time. Shiro needs to buy them time, those last few precious seconds. Trusting Keith to steer, and be aware of in front, Shiro twists. It's incredibly painful and the sound chokes out of him but it lets him slip his arm off Keith's shoulders, aim the gun back down the hall while leaning against the other paladin and fire off a steady round of shots.

His aim is atrocious and even though he was never the best shot in his class, even the worst was better than him currently. But it peppers down the entire hallway, sends sparks and smoke and electric everywhere. And, often enough, manages to hit either the airlock door or close enough to it that the raiders inside stop trying to lose their limbs and possible lives with his erratic shots and don't get it pried open any further.

It also takes the last of his energy and he sags, gun dropping, wave of vertigo and nausea washing over him. The raiders wouldn't stay cowed for long. Just - hopefully long enough. The joke comes out weak.]

Cargo temporarily secured. Ready for lift-off, captain.

[Keith was pretty sure Black would take Shiro back in a heartbeat. One of the ways he'd been able to get the Lion to work with him was because they were both trying to find Shiro. And the team definitely hadn't lost their respect for Shiro. They'd all wanted him back... not because Keith was a bad leader, but because he was part of their family. And he really didn't feel like there would be an issue if Shiro wanted to step back in. In fact, Keith sort of wanted him to go back into that spot. Deep down, he wanted his mentor back.

Keith automatically tightened his arm around Shiro's waist when he felt the other leaning on him like that. And, as wild as the shooting as the shooting had been, it had been enough to discourage the team in the airlock from pushing through for a bit. It was long enough for the hangar door to open wide enough for them to squeeze through. Keith snagged the gun before it hit the floor.

Shiro's weak joke does get a small smile in response, though. Keith was glad there was still some humor there. It was a good sign.]

Okay...

[He pulled Shiro through the door with him and then shot the internal panel to hopefully get the door to close again behind them.]

Hang on.

[He wasn't sure how much strength Shiro had left, but Keith held on to him as best he could. Red broke her head through the outer door, wedging herself in so they didn't get sucked out into space, and then opening her mouth so they could get inside.

Keith was still holding the gun, and he maneuvered the two of them so that Shiro was closer to Red as they made their way across the hangar. He was going to be shooting left-handed, and probably wouldn't have much better aim than Shiro did, since he was definitely more of a melee fighter, but he didn't need to be a crack shot to just lay down cover fire like that. Hopefully, though, they wouldn't be able to get the door open fast enough.]

[Shiro doesn't connect with the other lions. Everyone has their own special bond with their own chosen paladin and even when they've formed Voltron and he's flying as the head of it, the connection he feels to the lions that aren't his is vague and funneled through their own pilots first. So he can't claim any real connection to Red at all.

And even then - he'd swear he can feel the red lion's relief or welcome.]

Good to see you too. [He croaks it out, energy so spent that Keith's doing almost all the work and Shiro is just trying not to black out on his friend. And maybe that's what pulls up the greeting from him, punch drunk on pain and exhaustion and the promise of freedom. There's no response and he doesn't expect it. It's just - so good to see another familiar face, even if its stories tall and completely metal.

And then the world tips sideways and he's not sure if its the ship or his eyesight.]

[Red was actually relieved, surprisingly enough. The team bond was important overall to all of them, and having one of them missing had been hard on everyone. Plus, she was also relieved to be getting her own Paladin back from Black. She hadn't minded "lending" him out for a while, but she was possessive of Keith.

And knowing the Black Lion was going to be happy and relieved was good, too.

The ship did list a little to the side from Red's breach through the door, but not as much as Shiro might have thought. Keith barely kept the two of them upright as Shiro tipped, but he had to drop the gun to catch him.

The inner door started to open. Their 'friends' had caught up. Keith cursed softly under his breath and pulled on the last of his own reserves to lift Shiro back up, basically carrying him into Red's mouth. She closed her jaw once they were in, protecting them as the weapons fire started. Once Keith got inside the cockpit and everything was sealed, she pulled her head out of the doorway, letting the attackers deal with the idea of being sucked out into space.

Keith settled Shiro on the floor behind the seat.]

Hang in there... not much longer.

[It's not Black's cockpit. It's smaller and sleeker designed, Shiro would even swear it felt different on some basic intrinsic level. But its still a lion's cockpit and the way it rises up inside his chest is like that first gulp of air after fighting drowning for too long. He shuts his eyes, the impact of it emotionally almost too much to absorb all at once.

But he feels Keith set him down and even if the motion, no matter how gentle, jars what's left of his arm, he still manages a tight smile, or as close to a smile as he can come, lips tight, eyes still closed.]

I'm all right.

[It comes out thick and a little strained but he means every single syllable of it.

He's all right.

He's finally all right.

His eyes open and he braces himself with his legs, back against the warm metal of Red's interior and he looks at the stars out the view screen and his friend and teammate back where he belong and this time, when he smiles, its weak, but its real and purely his.]

Let's go home.

[Keith managed a weak smile in return. He could feel his own energy reserves at their limit, and, while they did run pretty deep for a kid his age (lasting as long as he had during the Blade of Marmora Trials had been quite the feat), he was definitely on the edge of being done. He nodded.]

Yeah.

[They were both going to need the pods when they got back, and it was likely going to be a task to figure what to do about Shiro's arm, but they'd work it out. Keith had to believe in that. For now, though, they had to get out of here. This wasn't the time to go for the solid win. They had succeeded in the most important part of the mission, so it was time to run.

He made his way to the seat, and contacted the others, telling Allura they were going to need a wormhole fast. The team pushed back the captors as much as they could, getting some distance, and then made the jump back to the Castle as soon as the wormhole was opened.

Welcome home, Shiro.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

YOU WANT, UH, A TISSUE? MAYBE SOME SOAP? NEW CLOTHES?

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woops... that got rambly... sorry

I like rambly!

:D

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